HOUSTON – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following his visit to the Kingwood, Lake Houston, Lake Conroe and the San Jacinto River areas yesterday:

“Yesterday, I toured Kingwood, Lake Houston, Lake Conroe and the San Jacinto River to view the impact of the devastation from Hurricane Harvey. This was my 5th visit to the area since the storm, but the first by air and on the water.

“Businesses and homeowners are still recovering. Some homes are completely gone, but the area is ‘Texas and Kingwood Strong.’ Kingwood High School reopened recently, ahead of schedule, which was a great accomplishment for Principal, Dr. Ted Landry, and for the district.

“One area of major concern is the layers of sand deposits that have changed the flow and capacity of the river. Even six inches of rain, as we had last week, can cause further problems. Hurricane Harvey has created many short and long-term challenges for Texas but dredging, cleaning up river debris and restoration efforts must be a top priority in this area.

“I will be working with local officials, the governor, legislature, Washington and the White House on these issues.

“I want to thank Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Houston Councilman Dave Martin for their hard work on these issues. They have been nonstop advocates for the community.”